June 21, 2009, Washington, D.C. - “The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost,” said President Barack Obama in a statement released by the White House on June 20, 2009. President Obama, who has opted for a tempered reaction to avoid being drawn in or perceived as a meddler in the internal affairs of Iran, called on the Government of that country to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people.
Obama’s comments came as news reports from Iran indicated a widespread and often violent government crackdown on protestors who dispute the June 12th election results. The reformist candidates have alleged widespread fraud and are calling for new elections.
Obama’s statement came a day after both the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate voted to condemn the Iranian government’s crackdown on the demonstrators. The resolution in the House of Representatives (H.Res.560) was sponsored by Representative Mike Pence (R-IA) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA). Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) proposed a similar measure in the Senate. The resolutions express support for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law, condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the Government of Iran, and affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections. The Senate also voted on a separate resolution by Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE), which condemns press restrictions in Iran.
"It is not for us to decide who should run Iran, much less determine the real winner of the June 12 election,” Representative Berman explained in a statement on the House floor. “But we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely and without intimidation."
Meanwhile, Republican Lawmakers used the occasion to restate their position that the U.S. should take a strong public stand in support of Iranians protesting the outcome of the country's contested presidential election.
In an interview conducted by the Huffington Post after the passage of H.Res.549, Congressman Berman expressed his support for the President’s handling of the Iran crisis and indicated that he does not foresee any additional congressional action on Iran pertaining to this matter. "We have said what we've said. And my view now is the principle of do no harm. Stay out of this."
Click here to read the statement from the President on Iran.
Click here to learn more about H. Res. 549.
